Artificial intelligence threatens white-collar jobs across many industries

In an opinion column originally published Wall Street Magazine Ray A. Smith touches on an emerging but troubling topic: the influence artificial intelligence (AI) in white-collar positions (full-time professionals performing semi-professional or professional tasks in an office). Smith notes that “Decades after automation began to take over and transform manufacturing jobs, artificial intelligence is coming to the C-suite of the corporate office.” This premise is the basis of his analysis, which delves into how advances in artificial intelligence could irrevocably impact industries ranging from technology to chemistry.

Accelerated development of technology, especially Generative AI, is redefining roles that were once considered safe in the corporate world. “Generative AI doesn’t just speed up routine tasks or make predictions by recognizing patterns in data. You have the ability to create content and synthesize ideas.“Essentially, this is the kind of mental work that millions of people now do on computers,” explains Smith. This is a critical difference that, according to the experts mentioned in the WSJ article, could lead to many management roles are disappearing forever.

The numbers on AI-related layoffs are telling. Since May last year, the company has been credited with more than 4600 layoffs To AI, particularly in the media and technology sectors, according to Smith, citing the firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The narrative is repeated in high-profile companies such as Google

, Duolingo And UPSWhere Job losses are due to the introduction of new technologies that increase productivity.

However, the author also details that AI may not necessarily mean the end of certain professions, but rather their transformation. Give an example Chemurysubdivision DuPontwhere nearby 1,000 office and laboratory workers were trained to use artificial intelligence applications. over the past three years. “The finance team can now spend their time on other business-critical projects rather than constantly running requests through the system,” said Matt Abbott, director of business transformation at Chemours, showing that AI can also be a tool for evolution and performance. efficiency.

The most important aspect that Smith emphasizes is potential collapse belonging middle management. As generative AI takes on more tasks, the control hierarchy could be radically reconfigured, suggests a forum study by Oliver Wyman. This can result in entry-level jobs becoming more similar to first-level management roles. effectively leveling the levels of middle managers.

Although more than half of the senior managers surveyed in the study said their jobs could be automated using generative artificial intelligence, business leaders still see it as a positive. They see new technologies as a way to expand and elevate certain white-collar functions, allowing employees and managers to do more meaningful work for both their companies and their careers.

Recent studies conducted in the USA and published Financial Timesdemonstrated the significant impact of generative AI such as the GPT-4 version OpenAIin the white collar labor market, affecting both freelancers on online platforms, as well as consulting employees of prestigious companies. Outstanding Research Harvard Business School it turned out that the employees Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which used GPT-4 significantly increased productivity and quality of work compared to colleagues who did not have access to the tool.

The analysis showed that those Employees Helped by AI They completed tasks 25% faster and increased their workload by 12%, and their performance was rated 40% higher than their peers without AI assistance. This phenomenon did not differentiate between skill levels, mainly benefiting lower-skilled workers within the organization. However, it has been observed that for more nuanced tasks, especially those that require detailed analysis of qualitative information, those assisted by AI perform worse.

On the other hand, a separate study found that editors And graphic designers Online freelance platforms have seen a decline in the number of jobs and their income a few months after launch ChatGPT To OpenAI. According to the same newspaper, this research highlights the threat that generative AI poses to white-collar jobs, signaling a devaluation of employment for even the most experienced and successful freelancers.

Research shows that the impact of generative AI varies widely depending on the type of job and level of skills required. While performing specific and repetitive tasks results in fewer job opportunities, in jobs that require more complex interactions and advanced skills, such as detailed information analysis, AI may not be as effective without adequate human integration and oversight.

GenAIor generative artificial intelligence, is ushering in a new era in the world of work, with a projected investment of nearly $200 billion by 2025. This cutting-edge technology promises to transform critical sectors such as finance, insurance and professional services, with renowned companies such as Morgan Stanley, McKinsey and company And Google prepare to integrate these innovations into your workforce. These technological advances not only involve a transformation of work roles, but also require a re-evaluation of the skills and tasks performed by employees.

Its implementation goes beyond traditional boundaries, promising to automate complex tasks that previously required professional intervention. Companies are now faced with the challenge of adapting their teams to this transformation by investing in developing skills that meet the demands of the digital age. While some professions, such as nursing, seem immune to these changes, the demand for technical professionals familiar with GenAI is growing, requiring HR leaders to proactively strategize and plan carefully.

GenAI’s impact extends beyond simple automation of administrative tasks and points to the automation of more complex processes previously reserved for professionals. He Burning Glass Institute And ShRM determine that GenAI has the potential to revolutionize not only finance and accounting, but also fields such as social sciences and software development, by streamlining the creation of predictive models and the management of large data sets.

While GenAI offers great opportunities to improve efficiency and productivity, it also has limitations, such as a lack of original creativity and a tendency to reproduce biases in the training data. This landscape requires adaptation of training and professional development strategies to ensure the workforce is prepared to navigate a future transformed by technology.